Chigorin 05-09: Himal scores a GM norm and completes IM title

by Priyadarshan Banjan - 25/10/2016

The Chigorin Memorial Tournament in St. Petersburg, Russia, has had a long tradition. It is named after the founder of the Soviet Chess School Mikhail Chigorin. A list of strong grandmasters competed in the 2016 edition for the prize fund of 18,00,000 rubles ($28000/26000 euros). GM Deep Sengupta had the sole lead with 5.0/5. But he faltered in the second half. Chandigarh's Himal Gusain played a beautiful tournament, to become an international master with a crushing win in the final round.

Chigorin 05-09: Himal scores a GM norm and completes IM title

The Chigorin Memorial Tournament in St. Petersburg, Russia, has had a long tradition. It is named after the founder of the Soviet Chess School Mikhail Chigorin. A list of strong grandmasters competed in the 2016 edition for the prize fund of 18,00,000 rubles ($28000/26000 euros). More than 30 grandmasters were playing in a field of 372 players with 16 of them rated above 2600.

GM Deep Sengupta (2570) won a beautiful game against GM Denis Khismatullin (2617) in the fifth round.

He surprisingly became the sole leader with 5.0/5, but he subsequently lost steam and ended with 6.5/9. But his game against Khismatullin is worth admiring:

It looks as if White may be dominating this position, but actually, Black is better thanks to White's marooned king! But there is only one move that makes sure of that... (Don't forget to see the mate in 4 in the end.)

But the man who stole the show was certainly (IM) Himal Gusain (2428) who scored a GM norm by making 7.0/9 finishing eighth.

Himal had been fluctuating around the 2300-range for some three years until 'something happened' in January 2016. Now he is close to 2450, has become an international master and also has one grandmaster norm.

This spectacular game where he crushed GM Ivan Rozum with a showpiece queen + rook sac is worth watching.

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